Happy New Year! Hello 2026! We hope you had a restful break and found a moment to slow down and recharge.
Yarra Energy Foundation (YEF) are back and looking forward to a big year. We’ve got a bunch of great projects continuing from 2025, and some new ones we’re excited to share soon. A few things we’re already diving into:
- Continuing work on the Clifton Hill community battery and EV charger
- Progress on community batteries in Altona, Manor Lakes and Torquay
- More home energy upgrades with Hume and Bayside councils, helping residents to reduce their energy bills and improve their home comfort
- The Melbourne Community Electrification Roadshow is back for another round of great local events
- And we’re starting on a brand new electrification engagement program, more on that below.
REPORTING | YEF wins funding from the Cheaper Home Electric Energy Program
We are excited to share that YEF has been awarded funding under the Victorian Government's Cheaper Home Electric Energy Program (CHEEP), delivered by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.
Through our project, "Engaging diverse communities on home electrification through sports", we will be working with sporting communities in the areas of Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Maribyrnong, Melton, Whittlesea and Wyndham.
We look forward to sharing more updates about the program soon.
PUBLISHING | YEF's Annual Report is out now
We’re proud to share our latest Annual Report, capturing a year of meaningful progress towards a cleaner, fairer energy future. From delivering practical energy solutions for households and communities to shaping policy, building partnerships, and supporting energy storage, the report reflects the impact of our work over the last financial year.
Key achievements:
- Launch of the Flinders community battery (pictured above)
- Federal funding for three more community batteries
- Victoria’s first neighbourhood battery training courses
- Technical feasibility report for a microgrid in Trentham
- National award for the Hume Home Energy Upgrades program
A huge thank you to our board, staff, partners, funders and community collaborators who make this possible. Your support helps turn ambition into action and keeps the energy transition people-centred and inclusive.
AUST | GOV | CHANGING | Cheaper Home Batteries program
The Federal Government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program supports Australian households and small businesses with a discount on the cost of installing small-scale battery systems.
The program provides a discount of around 30% on the upfront cost of installing battery systems between 5 kWh and 100 kWh, which has supported over 160,000 battery installations across Australia.
The discount is provided through the creation and trading of STCs. To fund the discount, the government purchases the equivalent number of STCs created for batteries.
From May 1, 2026, several changes will take effect:
- The program will expand from the original estimate of $2.3 billion to an estimated $7.2 billion over the next four years
- The number of STCs a system is eligible for will decline more frequently, every 6 months instead of annually, and will decline at a higher rate
- The STC Factor will taper according to the battery capacity:
- 0 kWh up to 14 kWh (inclusive): STC Factor applied at 100%.
- Every kWh greater than 14 and up to 28 kWh (inclusive): STC Factor applied at 60%.
- Every kWh greater than 28 and up to 50 kWh (inclusive): STC Factor applied at 15%.
This Solar Battery STC Calculator is a great way to see what a proposed system will be eligible for, based on the size and installation date.
SHARING | Geelong Sustainability's webinar series | Thursday 29 January 2026 | log on 6.25pm for 6.30pm-7.30pm AEDT
Geelong Sustainability was one of six recipients of funding through the Community Electrification Engagement Program. The program is delivered by Sustainability Victoria on behalf of the Victorian Government.
Their project includes a Home Electrification Webinar series, and we think everyone should get involved!
Details from Geelong Sustainability below:
Webinar 1: Home Solar & Batteries
Learn how solar and batteries work, how they can cut your energy bills, and how to unlock government rebates – with solar expert David Lee from Winki Energy.
- Where: online
- Cost: Free
- Bookings: online via Humanitix
Webinar 2: Electrify your Home | Wednesday 4 February 2026 | log on 12.25pm for 12.30pm-1.30pm AEDT
Join Sarah Aubrey from Electrify This as she shares how she transformed her home from a 2.9-star rating to a 10-star, fully electric home in just two months - and how you can do it too.
- Where: online
- Cost: Free
- Bookings: online via Humanitix
Upcoming webinars – more info coming soon:
- Webinar 3: Induction Cooking
- Webinar 4: Heating and Cooling
- Webinar 5: Hot Water Heat Pumps
- Geelong Sustainability's webinar series
SHARING | Our Services
Find out more about the services that Yarra Energy Foundation offers including:
- Feasibility studies
- Community Engagement
- Community battery strategies for local councils
- Consulting & advice
- Project management
- Solar & electrification programs
We are a small team of extremely passionate energy experts with decades of combined industry, governmental, business, and sustainability experience.
MORE:
Yarra Energy Foundation acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung as the Traditional Owners of this country, pays tribute to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Yarra, and gives respect to the Elders past and present.